Council leader lauds home swap scheme

Barking and Dagenham Council leader Darren Rodwell praised the development of an "old east end style" bungalow home swap scheme in Dagenham last month, where he met with new tenants.

Rodwell said: "The way the tenants can open their doors to chat to their neighbours opposite is fantastic. I think it helps creates a really neighbourly environment."

The six bungalows were built on Burbridge Close by the council's wholly owned regeneration company, Be First. The scheme enables older and disabled residents to move to purpose-built homes, while releasing larger, under-occupied housing for local families.

Iain Ferguson, commercial director of Be First, said: "This project epitomises the Be First approach. This is about building quality homes, on time and to budget and developing great communities. The bungalows were designed to create a neighbourly environment."